News in brief: November/December 2024: Ports & Terminals

GreenPort Congress	World Ports Conference	Coastlink Conference

GreenPort Congress is a meeting place for the port community to discuss and learn the latest in sustainable environmental practice. It offers ways to reduce their carbon foot print and be more sensitive to environmental considerations, both of which are vital to future success.	The annual World Ports Conference brings together global port leaders and key stakeholders from the shipping sectors to explore the opportunities and challenges facing the maritime industry. This year’s #IAPH2026 will be held in London, UK, offering a programme of plenary, breakout and workshop sessions and a gala dinner celebrating the IAPH Sustainability Awards.	Coastlink is a neutral pan-European network dedicated to the promotion of short sea and feeder shipping, and the intermodal transport networks through the ports that support the sector. It is a place for industry professionals to meet and discuss future innovation, economic and environmental considerations – and develop partnerships that will help build a sustainable future.
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A round up of Port Strategy November/December 2024 issue’s Port & Terminal news.

Sudan Deal Stop
The military-led government in Sudan has cancelled a US$6bn deal with the UAE over allegations that the UAE is supplying weapons to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a militia involved in the country’s civil war. In December 2022, Abu Dhabi Ports and the Sudanese company Invictus Investment signed an agreement to build and operate Abu Amama port, which is located 200km north of Port Sudan. The deal included a free trade zone, agricultural projects, and improved roadways.

Brazil PPP Plan
Brazil’s port privatisation plans look set to accelerate. The Government has confirmed an intention to auction off 35 terminals, with 22 facilities scheduled to be made available before the end of 2025. Amongst the proposed sales are a new terminal at Itaguaí and a container facility at the port of Santos. This news follows CMA CGM taking a 48% stake in terminal operator, Santos Brazil, and MSC reportedly acquiring major Brazilian port and maritime logistics operator Wilson Sons.

Hedland Dredge Starts
Jan De Nul has commenced dredging at Port Hedland, Australia. A total of one million cubic metres is being dredged to establish a deeper access channel, a swing basin, and two berth pockets to accommodate a range of vessels, including bulk carriers, tankers and ro-ro ships. An additional area of 10ha will also be reclaimed for the future Lumsden Point wharf structure. Port Hedland is situated on the North-West coast of Australia and is the continent’s largest export port by annual throughput.

COSCO Thailand Deal
COSCO SHIPPING Ports Limited has acquired a 30% shareholding in Hutchison Laemchabang Terminal Limited (HLT) and 12.5% in Thai Laemchabang Terminal Co., Ltd. (TLT). The deal, reportedly worth US$110 million includes Berth A2 in TLT, Berths A3, C1-C2 and D1-D3 in HLT, where D1-D3 is partly under construction. Total annual capacity will be 6.7 million TEU when fully built out. Laem Chabang Port is currently the primary port used by COSCO SHIPPING in Thailand.

Mobile Phase IV
The Alabama Port Authority has commenced on phase IV of its Port of Mobile container terminal expansion. The project will double capacity to one million TEU per annum and includes an inter-terminal connector bridge to create on-dock rail access. This expansion is being complemented by an ongoing channel deepening and widening project by the US Army Corps of Engineers, which will increase the Mobile Ship Channel depth to 50ft

Edgemoor Stalled
A proposed new US$635 million container terminal plan in Wilmington (DE), USA has stalled. Plans by the Diamond State Port Corporation to develop a site two miles from the existing port in partnership with port operator, Enstructure, (which owns a large adjacent piece of land), brought a legal challenge from the Port of Philadelphia. A judge in Pennsylvania ruled that the US Army Corp of Engineers had improperly approved permits for dredging and construction of the new terminal.

Ore for Itaguaí
The Port of Itaguaí is planning to lease its ITG02 area. Located 70km west of Rio de Janeiro, the port is targeting a deal for a new iron ore terminal as part of the Federal Government’s port leasing initiative. The auction is scheduled for December 18, 2024, as confirmed by the National Agency for Waterway Transportation (ANTAQ) in a published Auction Notice (Auction No. 09/2024).

DPW Silk
DP World Australia is to acquire Silk Logistics Holdings Ltd in a deal valued at A$175 million (US$115 million). Silk Logistics Holdings offers port-to-door logistics solutions and utilises a network spanning 21 logistics hubs and 25 warehouses across five states in Australia. Pending shareholder approval, regulatory clearance, and standard closing conditions, the transaction is expected to be finalised during the first half of 2025.